Selena Gomez Movies and Career Information

Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American actress, singer, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; best known for her portrayal of Alex Russo on the Emmy Award winning Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place. She has starred in the television movies Another Cinderella Story and Princess Protection Program. In 2010, Gomez made her theatrical film debut as Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby in Ramona and Beezus. She is also the lead singer for the pop rock band Selena Gomez & the Scene. Before Disney, she had one of the kid roles on Barney & Friends. In 2008, she signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and contributed to the Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place soundtracks. Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas to Ricardo Gomez and former stage actress Mandy Teefey (née Cornett). Her father is Mexican American and her mother is of half Italian descent. Her birth parents divorced when she was five years old, and she was raised as an only child by her working mother. In 2006, Mandy remarried Brian Teefey. She is named after Tejano singer Selena. In a 2009 interview with People, Gomez mentioned that she developed an early interest in acting